14 of the best Bendigo cafes to fuel your day

Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
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From fine food emporiums to scenic lakeside haunts, the best Bendigo cafes launch your Central Victorian escapades in style. 

It’s better known for its remarkable gold rush history and historical architecture, but Bendigo has far more to offer than a boomtown legacy. Christened a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy in 2019 – an Australian first – the city has nurtured a burgeoning food and drink scene that capitalises on the fresh produce that abounds the Goldfields region — and doors swing open first thing every morning. We’ve rounded up the best Bendigo cafes to entertain palettes of even the most discerning breakfast and brunch-goers. 

The shortlist 

Best value: Get Naked Espresso Bar
Best views: Whitby
Hidden gem: Bendigo Corner Store Cafe
Best farm-to-table: Peppergreen Farm Cafe
Best pastries: Harvest

1. Fox & Giraffe 

Dishing up some of the finest homemade food in town, Fox & Giraffe is a must-visit while wandering the charming streets of Bendigo. The food is flavour-packed, with the team running a successful catering business that highlights all the peak produce they work with. Step in past the bench seats dotted with cushions to take your pick out of an all-day menu featuring Kel’s Famous Breakfast Wrap with scrambled egg, bacon, cheese and hashbrown, a genius Cob with the Lot crammed with scrambled egg, chorizo, capsicum, onion and cheese, or a grilled Reuben sandwich on sourdough from 9.30am. Take the deliciousness home with you thanks to a retail portion of this Bendigo cafe stocked with gourmet wines, sweet treats, house-made preserved produce and more.  

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Friendly 

Location: 145 Bridge St, Bendigo  

2. Old Green Bean 

old green bean cafe in Bendigo
The menu at Old Green Bean features a mix of global and seasonal dishes. (Image: Old Green Bean)

Sample local artisanal handiwork with a cup of joe at Old Green Bean, who roast their own beans. The baristas themselves are equally skilled, ensuring no mug leaves the countertop looking anything short of creamy majestic. Stick around for a mouth-watering feed, too, as the menu covers refined breakfast classics including avocado on toast with beetroot relish, Meredith goat’s feta and pickled onion, plus a Turkish eggs with crispy kale, chilli oil and garlic and dill yoghurt. If you’re arriving in time for lunch, don’t miss exotic midday menu additions like a Middle Eastern roti with spiced lamb.   

Cuisine: Modern Australian for breakfast, while lunch welcomes international influences 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Cosy 

Location: 179 Lyttleton Tce, Bendigo 

3. The Anxious Goat 

Meals are made with love at The Anxious Goat, a Bendigo cafe arguably best known for their epic toasties filled with the likes of coconut poached chicken and mayo, ham, cheese, tomato and chilli jam, roasted vegetables with pesto, and more. The coffee is equally good, crafted from Proud Mary beans roasted in Melbourne, as are the house-made sweets spanning granola bars, slices and the occasional cake. There’s also some hearty curries to dive into, however, 2025 ushered in a new head chef so the menu is bound to be reinvented with the seasons all over again soon. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $-$$ 

Atmosphere: Hipster 

Location: 87 View St, Bendigo 

4. Peppergreen Farm Café

Peppergreen Farm in Bendigo
Indulge in a slice of freshly baked cake. (Image: Peppergreen Farm)

Start your morning at the source of all things yummy with a visit to Peppergreen Farm and its cafe and gardens, located in the northern end of town. No matter what’s in season, you’ll sample the freshest of flavours plucked straight from the grounds while seated amid blooming native greenery. Focaccias, gourmet pies, eggs on toast with all the extras, farm salads, quiches and further homemade delights keep visitors smiling, while a solid range of teas, coffee and cold drinks help wash all that goodness down. There’s also a dedicated kid’s menu featuring baked goods and ice-cream. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $-$$ 

Atmosphere: Family-friendly 

Location: 40 Thunder St, North Bendigo 

5. Whitby Bendigo

Treat yourself to views across serene Lake Weerona with an al fresco table at Whitby Bendigo. A Bendigo cafe located right on the water, and often host to weddings and large-scale events, the venue serves up generous plates of seasonally inspired fare. Think zucchini, haloumi and mint fritters topped with whatever greens are thriving at the time, plus AM stalwarts done different like the Whitby Benedict with slow braised pork shoulder and apple and pear jam. Sweet tooths will delight in the team’s famed banoffee waffles, arriving as a rainbow-hued mound of honeycomb chunks, salted caramel sauce, banana gel and dark chocolate.   

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$-$$$ 

Atmosphere: Breezy 

Location: 28 Nolan St, Bendigo

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6. Peachy 

Peachy cafe in Bendigo
A trusted spot to grab your cup of joe. (Image: The Meadow)

Keep your eyes peeled for the little white flag out front of Peachy, a Bendigo cafe steaming up your morning hit out of a hole in the wall on bustling View St. The family-run business is completely charming, with the team always up for a chat between popping your Honeybird Coffee Roasters order through and grabbing your obligatory ‘brookie’ (in case you’re yet to get amongst the fad, the sugary sensation blends the form of a cookie with a brownie for pure unadulterated gooey-yet-crunchy bliss). While the menu is tight, Peachy merchandise abounds with super slick t-shirts, jumpers and hats up for grabs to help boost your style points.  

Cuisine: Coffee and treats 

Average price: $ 

Atmosphere: Cheery 

Location: 73 View St, Bendigo 

7. Get Naked Espresso Bar

Another Bendigo cafe spruiking the handiwork of Honeybird Coffee Roasters, who are based in Victoria’s stunning Mount Beauty, Get Naked Espresso Bar pours up the good stuff out of an unassuming glass-fronted shopfront on Mitchell St. Step inside for some seriously expert skills as hot styles roll out the door alongside bottled cold drip and the odd pastry or muffin. It’s all about the caffeine rush here, so you can expect a savvy crowd no matter when you time your visit.   

Cuisine: Coffee 

Average price: $ 

Atmosphere: Slick 

Location: 73 Mitchell St, Bendigo 

8. Out Of Order 

Out Of Order Bendigo
The drool-worthy bagels are a crowd favourite. (Image: Out Of Order)

Specialising in loaded bagels and warm hospitality, Out Of Order is a winning Bendigo cafe in the middle of town. While the bagels are undoubtedly the crowd pleaser — think Philly cheese steak, a classic Reuben, a tuna melt, a traditional Lox with chive cream cheese, capers and smoked salmon — there’s also a spread of ultra-fresh sandwiches to consider. Alternatively, leap straight into the fairy bread: white bread smeared with butter and those vibrant hundreds-and-thousands. Wash your pick down with your preferred poison and don’t skip the iced list which spans strawberry matcha, white chocolate and other temptations.  

Cuisine: Bagels and baked goods 

Average price: $ 

Atmosphere: Relaxed 

Location: 325 Hargreaves St, Bendigo 

9. Edwards Providore 

Edwards Providore cafe in Bendigo
Come to this beloved hotspot for mouthwatering brunch. (Image: Edwards Providore)

Coffee from Fitzroy’s famed Industry Beans? Check. Daily baked biscuits and muffins? Check. A menu spanning time-honoured breakfast and brunch classics? Check, yet again. Edwards Providore not only houses a space that ticks all the boxes, but it’s also a great spot to stock up on fresh produce, peruse one-of-a-kind gifts and homewares, and source deli snacks for the road. This fine food haven is located on the outskirts of the city, but venturing only a little out is well worth the extra few minutes. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Busy 

Location: Shop 7 and 8, Kennington Village, 150 Condon St, Kennington 

10. Hoo-gah 

Hoo-gah cafe in Bendigo
Hoo-gah dishes up Instagrammable sweet treats. (Image: Maybelle & White Photography Studio)

Modelled on the Danish concept of hygge (a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that goes hand in hand with contentment), Hoo-gah is all about embracing life’s simple pleasures in inviting surroundings. Run by husband-and-wife team Gina Triolo and Danny D’Alessandri, this Bendigo cafe is committed to culinary inclusivity, offering punters a range of vegan, gluten-free and FODMAP-friendly options. You’ll find next-level sweets (double stuffed Oreo Biscoff cookies, anyone?) alongside buddha bowls, chilli scrambled eggs, tofu bao buns and plenty more. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Local 

Location: 4 Mitchell St, Bendigo 

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11. Percy and Percy 

percy and percy in Bendigo
This spirited cafe is beloved by coffee aficionados and aesthetes. (Image: Percy and Percy)

Housed within a corner block just outside the CBD that boasts a gorgeous little paved courtyard, bar-style seating out front, plus a smattering of tables inside, Percy and Percy is an all-weather kind of venue with a relaxed atmosphere made for easy Sunday mornings. Owners Elisha and Dan are strong proponents of shopping local and only sourcing the finest ingredients, while baristas work with Coffee Basics beans and milk from independent western-Victoria dairy Inglenook. The chefs tend to select produce purchased from local grocers, Bendigo Fresh, and meat from the award-winning local butcher, Flora Hill Quality Meats. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $-$$ 

Atmosphere: Homely 

Location: 110 Hargreaves St, Bendigo 

12. Bayleaf Foodstore 

Bayleaf Foodstore in Bendigo
Bayleaf stands out for its artfully plated fare. (Image: Bayleaf Foodstore)

It’s no slapdash affair at Bayleaf Foodstore. Instead, the team at this Bendigo cafe luxuriate in the details: think artfully plated fare, the friendliest staff, and snappy service. The menu has a distinct Hellenic slant, featuring dishes such as spetsofai (Greek pork sausage with red pepper, cannellini beans tomato ragu, poached egg, feta and sourdough) and kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters, haloumi, green chilli yoghurt, poached egg and green salad), and the coffee is from Melbourne’s St. Ali Coffee Roasters. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian with heavy Greek influence 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Infectious 

Location: 102 Mitchell St, Bendigo 

13. Bendigo Corner Store Cafe

Bendigo Corner Store Cafe
Order one of the thoughtfully curated house signatures. (Image: Bendigo Corner Store Cafe)

For an order of wholesome fare, make a beeline for this reliable Bendigo cafe in the ‘burbs, but not far from the reach of the CBD. While the eggs Benny is something of a house signature (think melt-in-your-mouth Otway ham hock on sourdough), Bendigo Corner Store Cafe regularly runs seasonal specials for brekkie, brunch and lunch that might sway you off menu. Past specials have included soft polenta with wilted spinach, grilled asparagus, smoked salmon and whipped crème fraîche; mango, lychee and coconut smoothie bowls with goji berry, cranberry and oat granola; and deep-fried zucchini flowers, plump with chickpea and beetroot, served on a bed of pilaf-style mixed grains. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Chilled out 

Location: 305 View St, Bendigo 

14. Harvest Food & Wine

Harvest Food and Wine in Bendigo
Harvest Food & Wine operates as a restaurant, deli, and wine cellar. (Image: Harvest Food and Wine)

Continental breakfasts reign supreme at this Bendigo cafe. Situated within Bendigo’s arts precinct, Harvest Food & Wine wears many hats – operating as a restaurant, deli, and wine cellar, too. Waltz in off the street and you’ll be greeted by a gleaming glass cabinet full of lovely cheeses, smallgoods and bronzed pastries, as well as a wall of wine. Harvest is known for many things, but it’s arguably the store’s buttery, flaky croissants that steal the show. There’s also superb house-made lamingtons in addition to a menu of classic breakfast dishes. 

Cuisine: Modern Australian 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Chic 

Location: 55 View St, Bendigo 

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Chloe Cann
Chloe Cann is an award-winning freelance travel and food writer, born in England, based in Melbourne and Roman by adoption. Since honing her skills at City St George's, University of London with a master's degree in journalism, she's been writing almost exclusively about travel for more than a decade, and has worked in-house at newspapers and travel magazines in London, Phnom Penh, Sydney and Melbourne. Through a mixture of work and pleasure, she's been fortunate enough to visit 80 countries to date, though there are many more that she is itching to reach. While the strength of a region's food scene tends to dictate the location of her next trip, she can be equally swayed by the promise of interesting landscapes and offbeat experiences. And with a small person now in tow, travel looks a little different these days, but it remains at the front of her mind.
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8 experiences to get the most out of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
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    Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

    There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

    So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

    1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
    Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

    Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

    2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

    woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs
    Let mineral-rich water heal you.

    If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

    The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

    3. Take to the air at Princetown

    12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road
    See an icon from a different view.

    You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

    The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

    4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

    Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum
    Visit a time of yore.

    Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum, a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

    The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

    If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

    5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

    kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave
    Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

    Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

    6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

    Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB
    Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

    Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

    Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

    7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

    bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour
    Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

    If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

    The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

    8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

    Cape Otway Lightstation
    Delve into the tales of Cape Otway Lightstation.

    Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red.

    While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

    And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

    Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.